'Caroline's Symphony' - Vogue Japan Oct 15

Anna Dello Russo is possibly my favourite fashion personalty, stylist and editor. Her flamboyant nature and sense of fashion is incredible and so fun and unique, as well as her amazing eye for style, in particular the fashion photo-shoots she puts together. As editor in chief of Japan Vogue, she is one of the most important women in fashion and for the latest issue of the global fashion magazine, October 2015, the fashion spread she has compiled is so beautiful and took my breath away. Starring supermodel Caroline Trentini, the spread is suitably titled 'Caroline's Symphony' and focuses on intricate details, clever lighting tricks and most importantly - portraits. 

As soon as I saw the shoot, I immediately thought of the 16th century Flemish paintings, in which the women are portrayed as pure and delicate, usually sitting inside a large town house or working in the kitchen. Religion plays an important part during this art movement, which can definitely be seen as a Dutch renaissance in terms of how this period shaped the world of art. Think for example, 'The Girl with the Pearl Earring,' the famous (and very expensive) portrait by Johannes Vermeer, dated 1665. As she stares back over her shoulder, you are drawn to the dark background, the scarves piled on top of her head, her white, clear skin and of course, her pearl earring. The style of art is very rarely depicted in fashion, not in our modern age when we tend to look to the future rather than the past. Yet this photo-shoot by Dello Russo captures this sense of history beautifully and focuses on key elements such as the head pieces, the sign of the cross and the more religious aspects which were so typical in 16th century art.

Caroline is a perfect model for this fashion spread and plays the part of innocent sitter for an experienced artist, in this case the photographer Giampaulo Sgura. With 14 photographs in all, this truly is a fashion symphony with each picture so different to the last. I love the image of Caroline wearing a white cape over her head by Philosophy by Lorenzo Stefani as she looks down at her lap, adorned in silver necklaces. The whole pose is so captivating and reminiscent of the Catholic virgin Mary. I also love the photo in which she wears an intricate blazer embellished with gold brocade by Dsquared2. In all, every photo depicts a totally different feel and look, but still remains loyal to the Flemish theme of divine innocence. The clothes play a huge part in the beauty of this shoot. Alberta Ferreti, Dolce and Gabbana, Delfina Delettrez, Chanel, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs and Valentino... every piece is photographed and styled to perfection. Absolutely wonderful!

To see this amazing shoot in all its glory, Vogue Japan is now on sale in selected stores across the UK.

Model: Caroline Trentini 

Photographer: Giampaulo Sgura

Stylist: Anna Dello Russo

Hair: Andrew Guida

Make-up: Jessica Nedza 

Manicure: Annarel Innocente 

My Time as a Heat Mag Intern!

I'm sorry I have not posted anything for over a week, but I have been incredibly busy... working at Heat Magazine! As a fashion and beauty intern at the famous Heat Magazine, I have had such a fun and insightful week, which has both opened my eyes to the world of a popular print publication and scored me a job covering the editorial assistant while she's away on holiday! So I thought I would share my incredible week with you and give you the low down of what it's actually like at a weekly fashion magazine (and believe me its nothing like The Devil wears Prada!)

I was lucky enough to receive a 2 week fashion and beauty internship after applying online at gothinkbig.com, the site to use if you are interested in interning at Bauer Media publications, which include Heat, Grazia, Closer, FHM, Kerrang and Empire. On my first day I was nervous and excited about what to expect as I hopped on the tube to Heat's office in Shaftsbury Avenue. But, as soon as I arrived everything went smoothly. I met the other editorial intern who would be at Heat with me who was lovely and is now a good friend, and was then shown around by a friendly member of the Heat team, Jennifer. Heat share their office with Closer and Grazia, but the separate magazines tends to stick to their teams and don't tend to mix!

As a fashion intern, my desk was situated with the fashion and beauty team, sitting next to 3 lovely ladies who immediately welcomed me into their team. I have a huge mac computer, plenty of draw space and super comfy chair which is important! What's more the Heat radio is playing all day long with fab old tune songs keeping you constantly tapping your feet to the beat. There's also a large beauty and fashion cupboard, which I've been told to organise a couple of times and let me tell you, even if you are remotely interested in make up you would be seriously impressed! Everyday the team get gift bags and packages from a host of companies including Burberry, Urban Decay, L'Oreal, Mac, Havainas and Yves Saint Laurent, to name just some. And they get to keep and try everything! It's a perfect job really!

Anyway, my jobs include handing out the post every morning, researching for the fashion team, checking prices of beauty products, transcribing interviews with celebs including Kanye West and Gino d'Acampo, picking up items across London, writing news stories for Heat's online website and answering the phones when the team is away. With an hour for lunch everyday, I find the day just flies by and before you know it, it's time to go home at 5pm. Sometimes Jennifer, the editorial assistant, sends me and the other intern to after work press launches which is a great way to socialise with interesting people and pick up freebies, including lots of delicious cocktails!

But overall, I am having such a great time, and was even offered the position to cover for a week for the editorial assistant which was amazing. Yes, it will add more pressure but then again, it will be invaluable experience which will help me in the future and I'm sure it will be a lot of fun too! With one more week to go at Heat as an intern, I find I can't wait to go back on Monday and continue to help out in any way I can, and believe me, you are kept seriously busy at Heat! The time flies by because you've constantly got jobs that need doing and the team are generally grateful for your help.

So here's some do's and don'ts which I found during my first week at Heat:

Do:
- Say hello to everyone each morning and be polite to everyone, including the guy who collects the rubbish! Being friendly costs nothing, especially in a fashion mag environment.
- Make yourself available to do ANY jobs, and look excited even if it's the most boring job in the world!
- Ask around if you're not sure about something. People will be happy to help you out.
- Arrive on time at least 10 mins before the actual time you're meant to arrive. That way you look keen to start the day and it shows that you're a punctual person.
- Do everything to the best of your abilities. If people see how amazing you are they will trust you with bigger and better jobs.
-Dress to impress! Well it is fashion, but make sure you have comfy footwear if running errands.
- Have fun and ask lots of questions! This is your time to shine.

Don't:
-Sit around not knowing what to do. Ask around, do some filing, check the courier room, make tea! There's nothing worse than being bored and plus you're here to learn so make the most of it.
- Turn down any tasks. Okay, so it might be something like 'file last years magazines' and you really can't be asked to do it. But this is why you are here, to do the odd jobs. So just smile and do it, and make sure you do it well.
- Never ask to take a lunch break or to leave early. Your supervisor will tell you when it's good to go. And also, never take a sickie! Even if you are truly ill, it will look seriously bad and you'll be missing out on a valuable day of work experience.
- Gossip about the staff to other members of staff. Even if you don't like someone, suck it up and don't start bitching to anyone else about your problems.
- Try and be too big for your boots. Remember you're just an intern, so don't invite yourself along to lunch, blab about what you ate for dinner last night, bore people on your break up from your boyfriend or keep pestering the editor. Really not cool.

Hope that helps! To read some of the articles I wrote for heatworld.com, check out the links below:

http://www.heatworld.com/2015/06/rita-ora-vs-cheryl-fernandez-versini-whos-the-best-dressed-judge

http://www.heatworld.com/2015/06/melissa-rivers-to-join-fashion-police-as-new-co-host

http://www.heatworld.com/2015/06/kylie-jenner-feels-bullied-by-the-whole-world

http://www.heatworld.com/2015/06/jay-zs-alleged-love-child-speaks-out

http://www.heatworld.com/2015/06/is-aisleyne-horgan-wallace-going-into-the-big-brother-house

http://www.heatworld.com/2015/06/is-kris-jenner-getting-engaged-to-toyboy-corey-gamble

Lights, Camera, Fashion!!

So its that time of the year again.....New York fashion week, closely followed by London, then Milan and finally Paris. Yes, its a whirlwind that flies by so quickly yet remains with us for the next 6 months, setting our trends and making mega money. The bianual international fashion weeks gives the designers of young and old the oppertunity to show us what we should be wearing next season, usually leaving as wanting every piece of their collection and wishing we were billionaires.

There are so many deisgners presenting their collections these days that its hard to keep up with all the shows, so here's what to look out for. We have the big, iconic brands that the fashion press flock to: Chanel, Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, Dior, Versace etc. Believe me, fashion people would kill to get tickets for these shows. They are the big names, the big guns if you so prefer. The designers that even if you were living in the middle of the Amazon or under a rock your whole life, you'd still know who they were because well, you just would.

And then you have the usuals at fashion weeks, who arent quite there with the big guns: Isabel Marant, Michael Kors, Moschino, Lanvin, Julien Macdonald, Donna Karan etc. Don't get me wrong, these designers are still 'big' fashion names, and I am sure that in the next 50 years they will have the same iconic presence as say Chanel. (Okay, maybe not Chanel!) Yet, still a joy to watch and make the fashion weeks more amazing and spectacuar.

Next you have the cool designers that brighten up fashion weeks and make editors sit up in their seats with excitement. They are the designers of the future: Christopher Kane, Rodarte, Dsquared2, Mary Katrantzou, Alexander Wang etc. I love these designers and the new, interesting concepts of fashion they create that are always unique and special. London fashion week is at the main forefront of presenting these new talents, fresh out of Central Saint Martins usually and rearing to go. London is just the coolest capital in the world (Yes, I'm biast). And, may I add, the only fashion city that really pushes young, up and coming designers to present their work on an international scale. How many designers are there in Paris who are under 30? Not many.

And finally you have the crazy, 'lets make a statement' designers who stand out in the pack in their own individual, wonderful way. Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier, Rei Kawakubo, Issey Miyake, Thierry Mugler etc. These creative directors are extraordinary, pushing the boundries of fashion and have a very loyal following of fans. They add the excitement to fashion weeks, just when clothes are looking a little too serious.

So, are you excitied for the fashion weeks? I will be frequently posting updates from the shows, so keep checking back at moda01fashion.blogspot.com.
My favs at New York fashion week - Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenburg, DKNY and Michael Kors. I'll be watching, you'll be watching so lets get on with the show...

Gucci Fall 2013 - Catwalk Review

Gucci Fall 2013 Review

Gucci kicked off Milan fashion week with a BANG, presenting a show full of drama, suspense and beautiful clothes, of course. 

Let's get straight to the point. For all those woman out there who live their lives in black, you have reason to celebrate! New York and London was full of dark, brooding collections with an air of mystery and magic. And now Gucci has indeed followed suit, with a gothic take on the brands standout dresses and skintight pants. Yes, Gucci was gothic, yet elegant and unforgettable.

Frida Giannini, heavily pregnant I should add, has been hard at work as we saw this fall. Her models looked eerie and unrecognisable with dark, heavy eyeshadow eclipsing the eyes. Hair was slicked back and shone dead straight behind the ears. Spooky and exciting! 

The show opened with a mass of boxy skirt suits in dark crimsons and black, moving effortlessly down the catwalk and fitting the models bodies like a glove. Tight leather skirts accompanied with beautiful jewel colours; pink, emerald and electric blue shone like diamonds in the dark skies above. Leather shoes continued to pound down the catwalk as our eyes were drawn to the check shift dresses, the embellished hems on metallic skirts, feathery capes and handbags glittering with studs. Beautiful accessories in the form of statement black chokers, shiny leather gloves and handbags in the most wonderful jewel colours were also displayed before our ever widening eyes. Where does one look with a show such as this? 

Frida's finale of dresses was spell binding. Floor length gowns swept along, covered in oriental inspired designs which just about covered the models modesty. Joan Smalls, the model of the moment, wore the most beautiful dress with a net material adorned with pink feathers along the arms, cuffs overworked with studs and a black silk skirt which moved beautifully. And then there was Karlie Kloss' dress, which again had a metallic skirt in crimson and what looked like two angel wings across the chest. A swirly design of sequins and jewels covered her arms. Embellishment like that is what sets Gucci above the rest. Detailed and daring. 

And so Gucci inspired and lit up our imaginations this season, while setting some serious trends. Dark reds and burgundy's are defiantly 'in' this fall as well as metallics, check, gothic designs and of course, black. A truly wonderful collection.

Le Grand Entrance

I'm here! Your daily reporter on the latest in the ever changing, ever expanding world of fashion. As a fashion lover and keen writer, you can be sure to read all about the latest shows, news and celebrity gossip in full detail.

I thought over the idea of starting my own fashion blog numerous times in the past, and it's not until now that I've decided to give it a go. So, this is a new adventure for me and I hope for all my readers who will embark on this fashion journey with me. Who knows what the future will hold as in fashion it is a well known fact that anything is possible....

H.M.L